Living Online Module Lesson 28 — Technology and Society Computer Literacy BASICS

Living Online ModuleLesson 28 — Technology and Society

Computer Literacy BASICS

Computer Literacy BASICS2

Objectives

Describe the impact of technology on business.

Describe the impact of technology on education and learning.

Describe the impact of technology on science and medicine.

Describe the impact of technology on our everyday lives as we work and play.


Vocabulary

Artificial intelligence Bot Computer-based

learning Digital cash

Electronic commerce

Simulations Virtual reality Voice recognition


E-Commerce

E-commerce, or online business, is already changing the way the world does business.

Products can be bought and sold over the Internet from companies that don’t even have a retail storefront.

A drawback(problem) is that, if a site is not secure, your credit card number may be stolen.


Digital Cash and Electronic Checks

Digital cash is a new technology that allows you to safely pay online with numbers issued by a bank that represent real money.

ATM machines allow you to access your bank account 24 hours a day.

Electronic checks and debit cards are making cash more obsolete every day. We swipe the credit / debit cards.


Pros and Cons of E-Commerce

Cons (disadvantage) The huge increase in spam (unwanted

advertising junk e-mail)

Pros(advantage) New categories of jobs being generated by

e-commerce represent a more positive side of technology in business.


Technology and Education

Some of the technological techniques having an impact on education today include– The Internet– Distance learning– Computer-based learning– Simulations


The Internet’s Impact on Education

It is rapidly replacing libraries and encyclo-pedias as research resources for class projects and homework.

Wikipedia Web sites provide search facilities and

indexed topics that make it easy to find information on almost any subject.


How Stuff Works Web Site

You can find information about many subjects and research almost any topic using reputable Web sites.


Distance Learning

People have been taken advantage of distance learning to obtain an education from home.

Methods of distance learning include televised classes and mail correspondence courses.


Computer-Based Learning

Computer-based learning and computer-assisted instruction (CAI) are methods for teachers to use computers for instruction.

The computer acts as a tutor, guiding each student through the lessons at his or her own pace.


Computer-Based Learning (cont.)

Students having trouble in a particular area can ob-tain a program to use at home or in a school com-puter lab for extra practice in the problem area.

They can repeat lessons as often as necessary on the computer so they fully understand the material.

Students at work in a computer lab


Simulations

Simulations are models of real-world activities. You can explore environments and situations

that may be too dangerous or inaccessible in real life.

Simulations can be found on the Internet or purchased on CD-ROMs.


A Computer Simulation(to create a city , highways, buildings, homes etc)


Science and Technological Innovation

Technology is changing the world every day. Advances in technology have provided

people with disabilities methods to communicate, become more mobile, and participate in more activities.

Predict weather conditions. TDD hearing impaired to use phones


An Antitechnology Backlash?

For some people, however, the world is changing faster than they can grasp, and some think that an antitechnology backlash may be inevitable.

It is a matter of debate whether society could or would return to a simpler state with less technology.


Potential Technological Advances

It is likely that even more technological advances are on the horizon.

Some areas that potentially hold great promise include– Artificial intelligence– Genetic engineering– Virtual reality


Artificial Intelligence

To process and learn from information on their own without human intervention .

Current ongoing areas of interest and develop-ment in AI include– Game playing– Natural language– Expert systems– Robotics


Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering generates great debate among people for and against it.

It refers to the process of changing the DNA in a living organism to improve the organism.

Supporters promotes its possible benefits:– Increase crop plants’ resistance to disease.– Enable an animal used for food to grow to full size

in half the usual time.– Allow fruit to ripen without getting too soft.


Virtual Reality

It has been defined as an artificial environment that seems like a real environment.

The artificial environment is created with hardware and software.


Virtual Reality (cont.)

You usually enter a virtual environment by wearing some type of helmet that connects you to the computer.

Areas in which it is being used today include– Education– Training– Medicine


Technology and the Workplace

Exactly how technology will affect us in the area of work is open to debate.

Many people predict that, with high-skilled workers in demand, many semi-skilled positions will disappear.

In the new economy, knowledge is the greatest asset.


Technology in Our Daily Lives

Society changed greatly during the twentieth century.

Our homes are becoming centers for work, entertainment, learning, and possibly even health care.

More and more people will telecommute or run businesses from their homes.


Technology in Our Daily Lives (cont.)

Some examples of potential technological advances that may soon affect our daily lives include– Clothes that fight odor and bacteria– Flying cars– Voice recognition technology– Nonlethal weapons– Smart shoes, smart seats, and smart houses– Space travel


Coming Soon: A Vacation in Space

Scaled Composites, Inc. took a private rocket plane to the lower limits of space twice to win the Ansari X Prize, and they are now working to develop a fleet of commercial space vehicles to allow the public the chance to visit space—soon!


Summary

Electronic commerce is the buying and selling of goods and services using the Internet and is predicted to grow at an ever-increasing rate.

Digital cash allows someone to pay online by transmitting a number from one computer to another.


Summary (cont.)

Technology is having a tremendous impact on how students learn; many people predict that it may change the entire structure of education.

The Internet is the biggest factor affecting education today.

Online courses through the Internet are becoming very popular.


Summary (cont.)

Many schools use computer-based learning to reinforce concepts.

Simulations are models of real-world activities.

Information is continuing to increase faster than we can process it.

Some people predict an antitechnology backlash.


Summary (cont.)

Artificial intelligence is software that can process information on its own without human intervention.

Genetic engineering refers to changing the DNA in a living organism.

Virtual reality is an artificial environment that feels like a real environment and is used in education, training, medicine, research, and other areas.


Summary (cont.)

In the new global economy, knowledge is the greatest asset.

New jobs and new job categories are being developed because of the Internet and electronic commerce.

In the twenty-first century, many more people will probably work from their homes.


Summary (cont.)

Some technological advances are clothes that fight odors, flying cars, voice recognition, nonlethal weapons, space travel, smart shoes, smart seats, and smart houses.

It is important to stay informed about advances in technology that will affect many aspects of your life.

Documents

Living Online Module Lesson 28 — Technology and Society Computer Literacy BASICS